This article is from page 11 of the 2012-11-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
STAFF from Clare Vocational Educational Committee (VEC) are unlikely to be redeployed away from Clare or Limerick under the formation of a new Education and Training Boards, a meeting has heard.
Clare VEC will join with Limerick City and Limerick County VECs as part of a new structure that will see 16 ETBs replace the existing 33 VECs.
Legislation to allow for the establishment of new ETBs is expected to be finalised by March.
At the November meeting of Clare VEC, CEO George O’Callaghan said there was a “remote possibility” of staff being redeployed away from Clare or Limerick.
He said such decisions are unlikely as the new Clare/Limerick ETB will have responsibility for a large area.
Clare VEC currently has responsi- bility for more than 2,300 post primary school students.
He told the meeting that the new entity would be responsible for 19 post-primary schools in Clare and Limerick.
In response to questions from former committee chairman Flan Garvey, Mr O’Callaghan told the meeting that VEC staff are unlikely to be offered a specific early retirement package.
He said any offer would more like- ly apply across all the public sector.
Mr O’Callaghan has been named as CEO Designate of the new city of Cork and Cork County ETB.
Mr O’Callaghan told the meeting that following the establishment of Cork ETB, he will be seconded to the new Clare / Limerick ETB.
The new 18-member ETB committees will comprise 10 local authority councillors; four representatives from the community and business sector; two staff members and two parents.
The meeting heard that until the establishment of the new boards, all current 21 members of Clare VEC would attend ETB meetings.
In total, around 60 people will sit on the Clare / Limerick until after local elections in 2014.
Mr O’Callaghan said there had been some discussions around the formation of sub-committees.
He said such groups would not have statutory powers.